investors

Ideas … Investors … and Job Seekers

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What do they have in common? 

This morning’s post in the FP Executive blog by Jesse Shantz, was following up on a Fast Company article entitled “Made to Stick, Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die.” Shantz took the “ideas” argument and applied it to investors. In making that translation, he said a few things that should also resonate with job seekers …

–They really give perspective on the idea of finding the right message to get your point across to your audience.

Finding the right message means the message is not about you. It’s about the prospective company and how you can solve its pain, problem, situation, or challenge.

–They show how using numbers [responsibilities] that don't resonate with readers, fall on deaf ears.

As Senior Finance Executives … working with numbers is what you do. Every day. Yet, often when translated to your career marketing documents, those measurable impacts are missing. No one is hiring you for your years of experience or even your breadth of responsibilities. The right company WILL hire you for your record of contributions and ability to positively impact in a new position [value].

—Make it something that is tangible.

Ideas that you had (initiatives), you executed, and which delivered measurable bottom line and long-term impacts … that’s tangible. That’s value. And many times, your ability to clearly articulate your marketable value proposition will make you stand out from everyone else.

Compelling Executive Summary = More $$$$

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Bill Reichert, Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, joined us in the CFO–Career–Forum this week with insight and wisdom into building an executive summary that will get the attention of potential investors. As a career coach, it was interesting to hear the parallels between building a compelling executive summary and establishing a competitive and distinctive search strategy.

Bill talked about creating a clear and unique value proposition; identifying a clear target market and leveraging warm introductions rather than a shotgun blast to nameless, faceless people; and networking, networking, networking  … also solid career management strategies.

Other parallels included a very high fail rate – in excess of 90%. How is the posted position game working for you in the job search? And he made clear that the purpose of an Executive Summary is to get a face–to–face investor meeting … much the way a resume is designed to get you in the door for an interview.

Here’s my point. Unless you understand and can clearly articulate your value and marketability, competing in today’s tough market is harder than it needs to be.

If you would like to hear the full hour of Bill’s wisdom and insight, along with other speakers over the past year, join the CFO–Career–Forum today.